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President's message

The hallmark of the Acropolis Museum was and remains, its openness. This underlies the brave decision to exhibit its sculptural masterpieces freestanding in the galleries removed from showcases and in full view from all sides. The same spirit informs the extensive program of digital reconstruction and representation of these works of art, resulting in successful interpretations presented in the galleries next to the original works. The redesign of the Museum’s exhibition display is in a large part informed by this candor as is the practice of conserving its exhibits in public view and in the presence of museum visitors. And lastly, the now established practice of providing museum and cultural services to visitors through the innovation of placing archaeologist-hosts in the Museum galleries reflects the same intent.

Introduced two years ago, the objective of the Museum’s temporary exhibitions was to present archaeological finds from regional Greece in their totality, including references to the archaeological excavations in which they were discovered, the reconstruction of sections of the ancient emblematic buildings associated with their historic locations and the natural environment in which these ancient sites are located. Hence, in the first exhibition about the famous Sanctuary of the Great Gods of Samothrace, its unique natural environs and the archaeological site was presented through two videos projected on large screens, while the exhibition setting comprised reconstructions on a scale of 1 to 1 of a section of the circular Arsinoeion and the Propylon of Ptolemy. In the second exhibition about the Oracle of Dodona, similar videos informed visitors about the archaeological site and its impressive natural environment, while the stage setting for the exhibition included constructed impressions of the courtyard of the Oracle and the small sanctuary of Zeus Naios, and a contemporary presentation of the prophetic oak tree completing the picture of
that sacred place.

A new kind of minimalist exhibition was presented with great success. Receiving visitors on the Museum’s ground floor immediately after the ticket sales desk, a significant exhibit, usually selected from the Museum’s own storerooms or another museum, is displayed in the most advantageous manner and is accompanied by a video projected on the mega-screen behind it. The videos are produced specifically for the particular exhibit and provide visitors with valuable information about the environment from which the exhibit originates. Four such vignette exhibitions were presented in the past year: three objects from a Scythian Royal Tomb loaned by Russia’s Hermitage Museum, a bronze torso of a statue of a rider recovered from the sea of Kalymnos and loaned by the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities in Athens, the masterpiece portrait of Emperor Hadrian which came to light on Syngrou Avenue and is part of the collections of the National Archaeological Museum and the bust of singular quality of Aristotle that was found during the excavation for the construction of the Acropolis Museum.

On 20 June 2017, the Acropolis Museum’s opening anniversary, eight years of exemplary operation are completed during which it received over eleven million local and international visitors that passed through its doors and enjoyed its exhibits. The Museum publicly expresses its thanks to all of them. In all areas of its operation the Museum has been supported by the readily offered good service of its staff. The regularization of their employment status however remains pending.

In the year that passed the Board of Directors lost one of its outstanding members, Professor Charalambos Bouras. The distinguished historian of architecture and leading figure in the anastylosis of the Acropolis consistently defended the construction of the Museum and for seven years provided an essential contribution to its operation.

In March 2017 the Museum happily accepted the offer from E. Gilliéron of the donation of a historical copy of Kore 685 that had been painted by his famed and homonymous grandfather. In the following month, the world known artist of light, Robert Wilson donated his work La Traviata to the Museum, where it is placed in the Museum atrium.

The duties of the President and the Board of Directors have been defined by Law 3711/2008.

President’s Office

The President’s Office provides support to the President and the Board of Directors in the development and implementation of Museum policy, the development and review of the Museum’s strategic and operational objectives, and the monitoring and implementation of these objectives. It also provides support to the President and the Board in the selection of administrative and management systems of the Museum’s human resources. The President’s Office is responsible for circulating Board meeting agendas to the Board’s members and for their timely notification. It keeps the minutes of the Board meetings and maintains a record of the minutes and decisions taken.

Secretariat Services

The Secretariat is responsible for maintaining the Museum’s electronic mail management system and for the receipt, recording, distribution and processing of incoming and outgoing correspondence, telegrams, telex and e-mail, and for the maintenance of the Museum’s General Archive. It provides secretarial support to the Museum’s departments, and undertakes the execution of administrative tasks (typing, data entry, and document reproduction), signature verification, copy certification and any other duty assigned to it by decision of the President. The Secretariat manages all external, administrative tasks required to meet the needs of the Museum, and the establishment, filing and updating of archives for issues of the Official Journal of the Hellenic Republic and the Official Journal of the European Union (EU).

Permanent Exhibitions Department

The Department’s role is the protection, research and presentation of exhibits to visitors and other interested groups, as well as the recording and documentation of the works in the collections and their general management in accordance with principles of modern museology. The Department is divided into separate units corresponding to the Museum’s collections, and headed by an archaeologist who is responsible for its coordination.

Department of Antiquities Conservation

The role of the Antiquities Conservation Department is to ensure the effective conservation of the sculptural, ceramic and metal works in the collections and storerooms, to improve the exhibition of the works with innovative display solutions, to participate in research programs and to produce reproductions of the exhibits for retail sales in the Museum Shops. The workshop is comprised of the following units: Marble Conservation, Ceramics Conservation, and Conservation of Metal and Other Artefacts.

Department of Education and Learning

Α. Education Team
The role of the Education Team is the development, preparation and conduct of educational programs for school groups, as well as for school-age children and their families. It includes the preparation and publication of all types of educational material and the conduct of training seminars for teachers. The Museum collaborates in this area with the scientific staff of the Acropolis Restoration Service (YSMA).

B. Archaeologist-Hosts
The Museum Archaeologist-Hosts are available daily to communicate with visitors in the exhibition galleries and through a range of programs tailored to specific population groups. This program aims to encourage visitor engagement with the exhibits and the Museum overall.

Communications and Promotion Department

The role of the Acropolis Museum’s Communications and Promotion Department is to promote the Museum in Greece and abroad. The development and successful implementation of effective external communications includes, among other things, the Museum’s website, electronic newsletters, publications, and communication in writing with the general public and the media. It requires ongoing collaboration with other staff members and departments of the Museum, and contributes to the Museum’s general communications policies. The role of the Communications and Promotion Department also includes the management of requests received from institutions for the use or hire of the Museum’s public spaces, planning and overall supervision of events, and the processing of applications for filming, video recording and photography permits.

New Media Department

The role of the New Media Department is to coordinate and undertake responsibility for all matters related to the digitalisation of the Museum collection and related communication media. It manages the input of material and content for the website, social media, podcasts and other multimedia applications.

Front of House Department

The role of the Front of House Department is to ensure the smooth reception and flow of visitors to all service points on the ground-floor, to ensure the orderly sale and procurement of Museum tickets to visitors, to create a welcoming environment for visitors and to provide high-quality services. Reception services are divided as follows: (i) Ticketing, (ii) Information, (iii) Visitor Bookings and (iv) Switchboard and Information Service.

Department for Service Quality

The Department for Service Quality is concerned with quality services to the public. More specifically, it is responsible for the management, preparation and maintenance of records and statistics, the preparation of guidelines for the public and updating Museum manuals and guidelines, the processing of permission for guided tours and the provision of services to VIP guests, the management of replies to visitor communications, the collection, analysis and preparation of reports on Museum visitor data, and support to Museum visitor surveys. The Department’s services are divided as follows: (i) Research and Evaluation Services, and (ii) Service Request Management.

Human Resources Department

The role of the Human Resources Department includes the monitoring of staff working hours and the planning and organisation of staff development and training of Museum staff. It also ensures that personnel are kept informed of training and development activities, and materials. It provides administrative support in all personnel matters, and other administrative issues that may arise.

Commercial Department

The Commercial Department has overall responsibility for retail sales in the Museum shops, the monitoring of sales, the development and promotion of Museum Shop products, and all other matters relating to the sales process. It provides high-quality services to visitors and develops proposals for innovative products that reflect the quality of the Museum’s exhibits. It is also responsible for the warehouse management. The Commercial Department services are divided as follows: (i) Commercial Management, (ii) Shops, and (iii) Warehousing.

Accounts Department

The Museum’s Accounts Department organises, undertakes and oversees maintenance of the Museum’s accounts books, records and procedures required by law for its accounting and financial services. It also prepares the Museum’s budget and administers the payroll. Accounts Department services are divided as follows: (i) Finance and Budget Management, (ii) Procurement and (iii) Payroll.

Security Department

The role of the Security Department is to supervise the Museum (exhibition and other spaces) ensuring the smooth operation and the protection of the exhibits and visitors from any kind of harm. Furthermore, it is responsible for the safety of the exhibits and visitors in the event of fire and natural disasters. Its role also includes the management and supervision of all the entrances and exits of the Museum and the cloakroom. It provides support on security matters during events that take place at the Museum, organised by third parties. Security Department services are divided as follows: (i) Day Shift (which includes the cloakroom area), (ii) Night Shift and (iii) Control Room.

Technical Services Department

The role of the Technical Service is to ensure the efficient maintenance and operation of the mechanical, electrical and electronic installations of the Museum and all building maintenance. Maintenance includes ensuring the efficient operation of all installations and systems, regular preventive maintenance, the resolution and repair of faults, and the on-site presence of highly-skilled technical staff. The Museum’s Technical Services Department is divided into: (i) Maintenance of Electrical / Mechanical Installations, (ii) Maintenance of Buildings and Surrounds, (iii) Cleaning Services and (iv) Information Technology Support.

Medical Service

Medical services provided by the Museum’s doctor include preventive and primary care for staff, and first aid care in case of emergency, for visitors. The doctor also acts in an advisory capacity on matters of first aid training for Museum personnel and provides support to the Museum on initiatives promoting good healthcare and prevention practices in order to avoid the occurrence of injuries at the Museum.